Question on architectural costs delays council action
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO - A resolution concerning the addition being built to the police department and building department at Town Hall was tabled at the final Township Council meeting of 2007 after concerns were expressed over the costs of portions of the project.

The resolution sought to amend the contract amount between Marlboro and Arcari and Iovino Architects, P.C., for its work on the plans for the addition. Originally the amount to be paid to the architect was not to exceed $65,000, but the recent resolution sought to amend the contract to an amount not to exceed $91,750.

Officials said the additional $26,750 was to incorporate previously authorized change orders and an additional $15,000 compensation.

Council President Jeff Cantor asked why the costs keep increasing.

Originally, steel beams in the walkway between Town Hall and the Marlboro Police Department were to be removed, according to Marlboro police Lt. Nicholas Barbella. It was then decided to keep the steel beams in place, which caused the plans to be redrawn.

Council members questioned the cost of $15,000 to draw plans to keep the beams in place.

Business Administrator Judith Tiernan said she could request an explanation of the costs from the architect so the council members could see exactly where the money was going.

The council members voted to table the resolution until those details could be provided.

Also that evening, resolutions were passed authorizing the Marlboro Police Department to purchase a new security system and new closed circuit television (CCTV) equipment to replace the original system. At the meeting it was explained

that the police department's

existing

security systems

needed to be replaced after they had been struck by lightning.

Two bids were received for the new security system and the CCTV equipment.

Service Works Inc., of Farmingdale, came in with the lowest estimate in both cases, with an estimate for the CCTV equipment at $17,985 and $17,314 for the security system.

Security Services and Technologies, of Eatontown, provided an estimate of $20,484 for the new security system and $20,482 for the CCTV equipment.

Both purchases were awarded to Service Works Inc. Funds for both security systems are available in a budget account, according to the resolution.

The new security system will include features that will make it easier for an officer bringing in a prisoner, according Barbella.

The lieutenant explained that the officer will be able to have his entry card in his pocket and open the door, rather than having to produce the entry card while walking the prisoner into headquarters.

The resolution explained that the lowest estimates for the purchases were less than $21,000 in the contract year, allowing a contract to be awarded without public advertising for bids.